Nathaniel Hawthorne 
The Ancestral Footstep (fragment) 
Outlines of an English Romance

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Ancestral Footstep (fragment)’ delves into the complexities of colonial history, lineage, and the burden of ancestral guilt. Set in a New England town, Hawthorne’s signature gothic style is evident in the dark and brooding atmosphere of the narrative. The book explores themes of sin, redemption, and the lasting impact of past actions on the present generation. The fragmented nature of the story adds an air of mystery and intrigue, leaving readers to piece together the puzzle of the protagonist’s ancestry. Nathaniel Hawthorne, known for his exploration of Puritanical themes and moral allegories, was uniquely positioned to write ‘The Ancestral Footstep (fragment)’. As a descendant of early American Puritans himself, Hawthorne’s personal connection to the history of New England shines through in his writing. His deep understanding of the cultural and historical context adds layers of complexity to the narrative, providing readers with a nuanced exploration of the past. I highly recommend ‘The Ancestral Footstep (fragment)’ to readers interested in American literature, gothic fiction, and the exploration of historical legacies. Hawthorne’s masterful storytelling and introspective themes make this novel a captivating and thought-provoking read that will linger in your thoughts long after you finish the last page.

A propos de l’auteur

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864), was an American novelist, dark romantic, and short story writer. Born in Salem, Massachusetts, Hawthorne’s literary works are deeply tied to the Puritan legacy, especially with respect to issues of guilt, sin, and the complexity of moral choices. His most notable works include ‘The Scarlet Letter’ (1850), ‘The House of the Seven Gables’ (1851), and the collections ‘Twice-Told Tales’ (1837) and ‘Mosses from an Old Manse’ (1846). While ‘The Ancestral Footstep’ remains an unfinished fragment, it exemplifies Hawthorne’s exploration of themes such as ancestral sin and the struggle for personal identity against the backdrop of history. Hawthorne’s stylistic approach often blended the real with the allegorical, rendering his prose both approachable and profound, interwoven with symbolic and psychological dimensions. His influence extends through American literature, shaping the genre of Gothic romance and establishing a uniquely American voice within the broader Romantic movement. He was a contemporary of Transcendentalist thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau but maintained a critical distance from their more optimistic perspectives on human nature. Hawthorne’s nuanced portrayal of the human conscience and the Puritan ethos has remained an enduring aspect of his literary legacy.